FDE Solutions Architect in Reading

FDE Solutions Architect in Reading

Reading Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Shape technical solutions and accelerate customer value in a dynamic environment.
  • Company: Join Microsoft’s Customer Experience and Success team, driving AI transformation.
  • Benefits: Inclusive culture, growth mindset, and opportunities for professional development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by solving business challenges with innovative tech solutions.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in relevant field and experience in technical solution architecture.
  • Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and contribute to best practices in delivery.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Overview With more than 45,000 employees and partners worldwide, the Customer Experience and Success (CE&S) organization is on a mission to empower customers to accelerate business value through differentiated customer experiences that leverage Microsoft’s products and services, ignited by our people and culture. We drive cross-company alignment and execution, ensuring that we consistently exceed customers’ expectations in every interaction, whether in-product, digital, or human-centered. CE&S is responsible for all up services across the company, including consulting, customer success, and support across Microsoft’s portfolio of solutions and products. Join CE&S and help us accelerate AI transformation for our customers and the world. The CE&S Strategy and Operations (S&O) organization is seeking an experienced Business Administrator to provide support to the executive leadership team and the CVP. The CE&S S&O team works across stakeholders on critical initiatives to drive the mission and strategy of the organization forward.

The FDE Solutions Architect is a customer facing technical role responsible for accelerating customer value by helping reduce time to agreed scope, enabling timely MVP delivery, and contributing to repeatable delivery patterns across Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) engagements. Operating within the Forward Deployed Engineer model, this role partners closely with account teams, delivery leads, and customers to translate business challenges into clearly scoped, technically sound solutions. The FDE Solutions Architect shapes engagements early, provides technical direction throughout delivery, and helps remove obstacles that impact execution. The FDE Solutions Architect operates with growing autonomy, demonstrates strong technical ownership within engagements, and contributes meaningfully to delivery quality and consistency across FDE teams.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

  • Business Impact & Success Metrics The FDE Solutions Architect contributes to improvements in the following business metrics:
  • Time to Agreed Scope – supporting timely and effective scoping of FDE engagements
  • Time to Contract / Start – reducing technical friction between sales and delivery
  • Time to First MVP – enabling delivery teams to achieve initial customer value quickly
  • Customer Reported Delivery Quality Score – reflecting solution clarity, technical readiness, and delivery setup quality
  • Technical Scoping & Solution Shaping:
  • Support technical scoping activities across FDE engagements, helping translate business aspirations into clearly defined use cases and architectures.
  • Partner with Account Teams, FDE Delivery Leads, and customers to define and validate solution scope, technical approach, and delivery assumptions.
  • Ensure scoped solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned to MVP driven delivery principles.
  • Help identify appropriate technical resources and skills required for successful delivery.
  • Delivery Enablement & MVP Support:
  • Support delivery velocity by helping clarify scope, dependencies, and technical risks prior to and during delivery.
  • Assist in resolving technical issues that impact delivery progress, escalating when appropriate.
  • Contribute to the definition of measurable MVP outcomes and success criteria.
  • Pattern Contribution & Knowledge Sharing:
  • Contribute to the identification of recurring customer requests and delivery patterns across engagements.
  • Share lessons learned and emerging best practices with peer FDE teams.
  • Participate in the development and adoption of standardized delivery approaches and templates.
  • Operational Collaboration:
  • Participate in operational reviews of active FDE engagements, providing technical input on delivery risks, scope alignment, and MVP progress.
  • Support identification of high quality FDE outcomes that may serve as customer references or internal success stories.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field
  • Proven experience in technical solution architecture, delivery engineering, or customer facing technical roles
  • Solid background in systems design, cloud platforms, data platforms, or enterprise software solutions
  • Experience working directly with customers to understand requirements and shape technical solutions
  • Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into structured technical approaches and MVP concepts
  • Experience working in fast paced delivery environments with changing requirements
  • Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across sales, delivery, and operations teams
  • Experience working within or alongside a Forward Deployed Engineer model
  • Familiarity with agile and iterative delivery practices focused on MVPs
  • Experience contributing to reusable delivery patterns or best practices
  • Exposure to cross functional collaboration across commercial and delivery teams

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

FDE Solutions Architect in Reading employer: Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft is an exceptional employer, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that empowers employees to thrive. With a commitment to employee growth and development, the company offers numerous opportunities for professional advancement while promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment. Located in a dynamic tech hub, Microsoft provides its employees with access to cutting-edge resources and a vibrant community, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the world of technology.
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Contact Detail:

Microsoft Corporation Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land FDE Solutions Architect in Reading

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that FDE Solutions Architect role.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to technical scoping and solution shaping. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with articulating your thoughts.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, be ready to discuss how you've tackled ambiguous business problems in the past. We want to see how you translate challenges into structured technical approaches.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!

We think you need these skills to ace FDE Solutions Architect in Reading

Technical Solution Architecture
Delivery Engineering
Customer Engagement
Systems Design
Cloud Platforms
Data Platforms
Enterprise Software Solutions
Requirements Analysis
MVP Development
Agile Delivery Practices
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Technical Scoping
Operational Review Participation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the FDE Solutions Architect role. Highlight your relevant experience in technical solution architecture and customer-facing roles, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.

Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical skills! We want to see your experience with systems design, cloud platforms, and how you've tackled ambiguous business problems. Use specific examples to illustrate your expertise.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Keep your language straightforward and avoid jargon unless it's necessary. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!

How to prepare for a job interview at Microsoft Corporation

✨Know Your Tech Inside Out

As a FDE Solutions Architect, you'll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of technical solution architecture and delivery engineering. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud platforms, data systems, and enterprise software solutions. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled similar challenges in the past.

✨Master the Art of Scoping

Technical scoping is crucial for this role. Prepare to explain how you translate business aspirations into clear use cases and architectures. Think of examples where you've successfully defined and validated solution scope with account teams and customers.

✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills

This position requires strong communication and collaboration across various teams. Be prepared to share experiences where you've worked closely with sales, delivery, and operations teams to overcome obstacles and ensure successful project outcomes.

✨Emphasise Your Agile Mindset

Familiarity with agile and iterative delivery practices is key. Highlight any experience you have with MVP-driven delivery principles and how you've contributed to reusable delivery patterns or best practices in previous roles.

FDE Solutions Architect in Reading
Microsoft Corporation
Location: Reading
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